Wind instrument



April 10, 1945.

c. F. w. FORSSBERG 2,373,110

WIND iNSTRUMENT Filed June 30, 1939 '7 Sheets-Sheet l April 10, 1945. c. F. w. FORSSBERG WIND INSTRUMENT Filed June so, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 41 anpA INVENTOR.

April 10, 1945. c R w FORSSBERG 2,373,110

WIND INSTRUMENT Filed June 30, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VENT OR:

April 1945- c. F. w. FORSSBERG 2,373,110

WIND INSTRUMENT Filed June 30, 1939 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 7l'7ig. .34

/,IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII.

' April 10, 1945. c. F. w. FORSSBERG 2,373,110

WIND INSTRUMENT Filed June 30, 1939 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR:

April 1945. c. F. w. FORSSBERG 2,373,110

WIND INSTRUMENT Filed June 30, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 P 1945' c. F. w. FORSSBERG 2,373,110

WIND INSTRUMENT Filed June so, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN VENTOR.

Patented Apr. 10, 1945 REISSUED UNITED STATES, PATENT .orFic-E WIND INSTRUMENT Carl F. W. Forssberg,1Brooklyn,;-N.'Y.

Application June30, 1939, Serial No. 282,221

r 6 Claims.

This invention-relates tomusical wind instruments and; hornswhich may be considered: as related both to the brassesand wood wind instrumentsutilizing an air column, but being preferably assembled and builtup from :a fewsimple parts of metal or plastic materiaL'or of-both-together.

The main object-otmy invention is to provide an: instrument or. horn of the character indicated which will practically avoid the use of pipes and tubes,- -etc in its construction ,by includinggspecial covered channels or, grooves iormed in at least one member or even in two or more members forming main-portions of thestructure of the instrument.

Another object is to produce :suchan. instrument from qmolded material such as :plastics or die castings of metal-in order ,to simplify construction and greatly reduce-cost; oi manufacture and thus facilitate marketingthe instrumentat sucha, lowiigureas to encourage general use in large quantities.

A furtherobject is-to-make an instrumentof this type of at least one-channel or body member or even two main channel members-and a rigidly associated ;or intermediate sandwich structure, sheet or member, which .when asSembled by-,-cementing or riveting or evensolderingor welding together will at once form the main bodyof the instrument to which a mouthpiece may beadded to complete the, simplest embodiment whichmay be taken to correspond to abugle.

"Yet another object is to do .away with slides for'fine tuning and instead have a simple, partly rotatable or slidable adjusting valve which is ca- I pa'ble'of-fine adjustments.

It is also an object to' have the instrument provided with valves for playing in all desirable keys so that it may take its proper place with the cor-net, trumpet/fluegelhorn, trombone and alto horn, etc.

It is-even an object to'do away altogether with exposedtubularslides for changing the key of the instrument from F to'G or vice versa in the embodiment corresponding to the bugle,- and from A to -Bb,- and/or,-,from1Bb to C,-etc., in the'form corresponding to the trumpeter cor-net; byhaving a novel form .of key. changing mouthpiece which is arranged :to cooperate with one or more fixed loops of tubing or. channel in the air column in order to cut, in; or'cut out said loops.atwill,

It should bementioned thatyit'is an object withalgso to ,arrangetthechannels. and double them .onthemselvesor each other .and: otherwise condense the entireyconstruction and all dimensions ,of;the instrument-as well as to lighten the same without sacrificing pitch, volume, tone -or overtones so that an exceedingly compact, portable and attractive as well as effective wind instrument results whichif made of the modern Plastics, may .haveany-one'of alarge range of colors and finishe Other objects:and:numerousyadvantages of the present instrument-and;accruing from its nature, constructionand-practical use will appear more fully in detail as this specification proceeds.

In.;order;.to facilitate ready. comprehension of this: invention. and" its various features, the same is illustrated .by vway cinch-limiting examples inthe accompanying drawings forming part hereof ,:-,a nd in which Fig. 1 is an elevation ofa'form of my instrumentwhich-may be considered ascorresponding in pitch, tone and volume to an army bugleand embodying. certain main principles of-'my invention.

: Fig. 2 is a side view of-the same,

iEig :13uis a topplan view of the same instrument.

Fig.4 illustrates one of the main channel mam hers ofrthe instrument of'Figs. 1-3 prior to assembling, with a portion of the upper end'and a'mouthpiece in section.

Fig. 5 shows an opposite or corresponding main channel member of the same instrument.

Fig. 6 illustrates in--partialperspective an intermediate member-or'sandwich sheet or plate intended to-be secured between the two corresponding main channel members of Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. "lis atransverse section taken on line 1-1 in Fig. 1.

"Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of the upper portion of Fig. 4, showing the mouthpiece in altered position.

Fig.--9=is an enlarged front elevation of the mouthpiece alone of Figs. 1; 2, 3, land 8.

:Fig, 10 -isanothenview of the same as seen from the bottom.

Fig. 11 is a further side elevation of the enlarged mouthpiece.

Fig.l2 is-an elevation of another formof the instrument including three key valves .50 as to provide for-playing all manner of musical selections in any key.

:Fig, 13 illustrates one of the main .channel members of the same instrument.

Fig; 14 shows the other or-correspondingly opposite main channel member'of the instrument of Fig.i12.

Fig. is an enlarged fragmentary view of valve detail.

Fig. 16 is a section of Fig. 15 taken on line Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view of the poition of a modification of the instrument of Figs.

12, 15 and 16 with a portion broken away to disclose the interior construction of a tuning valve. Fig. 19 is a similar view showing the tuning valve in a different position of adjustment.

Fig. 20 is a section of Fig. 18 taken on line 26-20.

Fig. 21 is a partial section taken a little lower in Fig. 18 than Fig. 20 and shows substantially a side elevation of the tuning valve of Figs. 18, 19 and 20 as taken on line 2l-2| in Fig. 18.

Fig. 22 is a top plan view of the same tuning valve with the shaft and control knob cut off and the interior walls indicated by broken lines.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary elevation of the upper part of the instrument of Fig. 1, showing a modification.

Fig. 24 is a vertical section of Fig. 23, but avoiding any section of the mouthpiece.

Fig. 25 is an enlarged side elevation of the mouthpiece alone of Figs. 23 and 24.

Fig. 26 i a rear elevation of the same.

Fig. 27 is a modification of the mouthpiece of Fig. 26.

Fig. 28 is a modification in transverse section of the body of the instrument as shown in section in Fig. '7, the general plan and appearance of the instrument being exteriorly about the same as shown in Fig. 1, while the section is taken approximately on line 'l-J.

Fig. 29 is another modification similarly shown in section.

Fig. 30 is a further modification of a similar form in section.

Fig. 31 is a, fragmentary perspective view. of part of an intermediate member or sandwich sheet of Fig. 30.

Fig. 32 is yet another modification in section of the instrument, similar to the section shown in Fi 30. V

Fig, 33 illustrates a simpler form or modification of the instrument of Fig. 1.

Fig. 34 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 35 illustrates a simple bugle or horn of the ordinary type with an important feature of my invention shown in section and combined with said bugle.

Fig. 36 is a partial side elevationof the same.

Fig. 37 is a fragmentary view of the bugle showing the mentioned feature in full from the same point of view as in Fig. 35.

Fig. 38 is a vertical section of a modification of the upper part of the instrument of Figs. 1 and 2, as seen from the same point of view as Fig. 2.

Fig. 39' is a further modification of the body of the instrument shown in a transverse section similar to that of Figs. 7 and 28.

Fig. 40 is a fragmentary view of the upper part of the instrument showing a modification of Fig. 12.

Fig. 40a is a perspective view of a rear part of Fig. 40.

Fig. 41 is a transverse section of the same taken on line dl-M in Fig. 40.

Fig. 42 is a vertical section also of the same taken on line 42-42 in Fig. 40.

Fig. 43 is a fragmentary view of the lower part of a channel member of the body of the instrw ment showing how the same may be modified throughout to include air spaces which are not connected to the main air channel but are independent thereof.

. Fig. 44 is a transverse section of the instrument as takenpn line 44-44 in Fig. 43.

Fig/1:5 is a fragmentary perspective of the intermediate member or sandwich sheet which may be used with the channel member of Fig. 43.

Fig. 46 is a transverse section of the instrument taken on line 4646 in Fig. 33, but showing a further modification of the construction.

Fig. 47 illustrates a modification of the instrument of Fig. 12.

Fig. 48 is the upper fragment of one of the channel members of said instrument, while Fig. 49 is the upper portion of the other channel member, the mouthpiece being omitted better to reveal the construction. I

Fig. 50 shows the mouthpiece of the same instrument, while Fig. 51 i a plan view of a tuning valve of the instrument of Fig. 47.

Fig. 52 is a section of part of a modified instrument as taken on line 52, 52 in Fig. 53, and illustrates a slide for tuning.

Fig. 53 is a transverse section of the instrument of Fig. 52 on line 53, 53 in Fig. 52.

Fig. 54 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the instrument of Fig. 47.

Fig. 55 is a front elevation of a modification or simplification of the instrument of Figs. 33 and 34.

Fig. 56 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 57 illustrates a channel member of the same instrument.

Fig. 58 shows an opposite corresponding channel member of said instrument.

Fig. 59 is a front elevation of another modification of the instrument of Figs. 33 and 34.

Fig. 60 shows one channel member of the instrument of Fig. 59, and Fig. 61 illustrates the correspondingly opposite channel member, while Fig. 62 is a perspective view of a sandwich plate for th same instrument.

Finally, Fig. 63 is a fragmentary section as seen in perspective, of a further modification of the construction of the body portion of the instrument of Figs. 33 and 34.

Throughout the views, the same reference numerals indicate the same or like parts.

Among the brass wind instruments used in musical organizations such as bands and orchestras as well as in military organizations, and also for solo work, etc., it is noteworthy that no radical changes have been introduced for quite a long time. All of these instruments occupy considerable space and require more or less large carrying cases or covers, but judged by the cubical content of their air columns. could well be reduced in size. In case a player is near sighted or has poor eyes, and uses a stand for his music, the length and actual size' of the instrument used may prevent a sufiiciently near approach to the music to see well. It is also quite obvious that such brass instrument consist mainly of tubing which is bent at several points and also has several joints which require to be soldered or brazed, and the manufacture thereof requires great skill, much fitting, adjustment and finishing, worth from ten to fifty or more time the actual value of the material of which the instruments are made. The necessity for polishing such instrumentsand carefully cleaningand taking care of them, and their very high price-as a rule, militates. against general adoption and use-and also prevents many talented people'from learning to play upon themand even from learning music for 'this reason.

Now, inorder to avoid all suchdisadva'ntages and particularly with the foregoing andother objects in mind, the present invention has been designed to fill a place of its own and greatly encourage'the study and playing of good music.

1 Hence, in the practice of my invention, an instrument body, generally indicated at I has a mouthpiece 2 which is removably inserted and shownalone in Figs;'9, 10 and 11 in enlarged form.

if an elastic member 5 is caught beneaththe projections 4,4 and passed over the mouthpiece projections 3, '3, said member'will tend to hold the mouthpiece down inposition and retain the same against accidental loss.

'Before going intofurther deta-ilin'regardto the mouthpiece and its'poss'ible modifications, it is perhaps better to direct attention to the-main feature of the invention which refersto'thegeneral "construction of the body of the instrument.

The instrument proper is preferablycompose'd of three'main members, namely, two opposed outer members, which mayfor conveniencebe termed channel members 6" and I; and an intermediate member'or sandwich'plate 8. The channel member 6 has a plurality of channels or groovesQ, I I,

12,, I6, I7, 22, etc., (Fig. 4) and the'othercha'n- "nel member Thas'corresponding grooves or channels"), I3, I5,'I8, etc, (Fig.5) While the sandwich plate 8 as shown in Fig. 6 has aplurality ofmarginal holes along the two side at'25 21, 29

and 3|, etc.,.and 25,28, 30 and"32, etc., which connect theouter ends of channels Sand II in member 6 with channel I 0 in member], the

higher end of channel I3 in member Twith the :outer end of channel I2 in member 6,.the. lower end of channel I3 in member! with the higher end'of channel I4 in member 6, and so on .down to channel I! in member 6 which connects at its lower end through aperture 1'3I in the sandwich platewith the upperend of channel. I8 in member 'I. The lower end of channel I8 connects through aperture 32 with channel 22 in member "6, and this channel enlarges into a half bell .23

which is open to and connects directly with the correspondingly opposite half bell portion 24 in member I through the openslot 33 inthe lower end. of the sandwich sheet 8 to form the: bell 38..

It should be noted that the sandwich sheet or plate 8 isipreferably flat in the form of the instrument disclosed in Figs. 1 .through18, as well as in other forms also shown, and the corresponding surface 34 and -35 of channel members 6 and 1. are intended to be correspondingly. flat, so as to make contact entirely about the majority of the channels with the sandwich sheetthrough its general extent. It should likewise..beinoted.'that the main intermediate area 36 of the sandwich .sheetserves to cover the: channels ll'll of the channel membersso as to1convert them into conduits or the equivalents of tubes,'-while the'mar- :ginalt apertures in saidsandwich sheet or plate serve'to connect one end of a channel in one -channelhmember on-one sideof the sandwich -;sheet.to one 'endof'another channel in'the other channel' member onthe other side of said sheet or plate. The ChZHHCISLEIQSO arranged in the two-membersontheoppositesides of the plate 8 that if the instrument stands upright, drainage for water 'of condensation will tend to occur by "gravity.

polymerized derivatives of methacrylic acid,- etc.,

orsaid'members may-be made of any kind of die cast metal or alloy. In case plastic material is used, the members may-be cemented or fused-together by mean of a, suitable solvent or a solu- 'tion of the plastic used, but in case die castings areusedfor the channel members a metal'sheet can be used for the sandwich plate and these members screwed, soldered, brazed, fused or riveted together, as may bemost suited to the particular material used. I prefer to use a plastic, as it is convenient merely to apply a solvent or 'a plastic cement to the fiat general surfaces 34 and35 of both members and to both sides of the sandwich plate, and then bring the two members together withsaid plate between, when it will shortly be found that these members are firmly united into a single inseparable unit. The tone varies somewhat according to the metal or plastic used, but'mainly depends on the form of the channelsection and the length of the channel. A handle '3! may be added to the instrumenttogether with'the thumb piece 38, the

'opening'39 servingto accommodate the fingers sition.

and I I thereto through plate apertures 25 and 26 are enthe same channel member. In this position the mouthpiece may be used to direct a sound through channel II .and by Way of plate aperture 26 through channel I0 and thence through plate aperture 25 through channel 9 and through mouthpiece bottom channel 42 into channel I 2, and thence through the remaining plate apertures and successive channels in both channel members. Naturally, the tone produced will be pitched according to the total length of the air column of the instrument, and if the latter is intended to correspond to a bugle, the same may be pitched. at F. The mouthpiece is replaceable so as to change the pitch to G, for example, and to efiect this change, it is but necessary to lift said mouthpiece out of the instrument and, after turning the same one half turn without inverting it, to replace the same in the instrument soas to occupy the relatively reversed position illustrated in Fig. 3, in which the main channel 4| connects directly with channel I2 instead of with channel I I while the shank 40 forms a complete cutoff for channel 9 and the lower shank channel 42 cuts off channel II by being itself directed against the interior wall of the mouthpiece socket 43, the result being that'the two stationary channel 9 and the longer channel Ill connected the chromatic scale.

tirely blind and cut out of the air column so as to be inactive. As the air columnis then shorter, the pitch will be higher.

In the figures thus far described, the shank 40 of the mouthpiece member lies against the sandwich sheet or plate 8 upon one side and is in fact located wholly upon that side of said plate in the socket or enlargement 44 of channel member 6, and is retained in the socket by the elastic 5. However, as shown in Fig. 38, the shank can be disposed directly against the channel member 45 (which correspond to member I, extending through the sandwich sheet 45 (which correspondsto plate 8), while the socket 41 of channel member 48 (corresponding to socket 44 on member 6) projects less than said socket 44 as a consequence, which is the main advantage gained. The same construction may be incorporated in the more elaborate valved instrument generally indicated at 49 in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, although the construction can also be like that of Figs. 1 through 8.

In Fig. 12, one of the channels 50 leading from the mouthpiece 2 in one channel member before reaching the lower end channels 53 and the bell, has a passage 5! which may be interrupted and lengthened by a plurality of valves 55, which are controlled by manual keys or levers 5B, 56, etc., by which said valves may be individually depressed.

These valves are practically the same in form and construction, so that a description of one describes them all, but each controls a different length of channel loop, the first valve controlling a medium channel loop 51, the second valve a smaller loop 58 and the third 8. much longer loop 59, so as to provide for any and all half tones in The passage 54 is blocked when a valve 55 is depressed by a lever 56 as in Figs. 15 and 16, but then, when the lower edge of the valve member 55 comes into contact with the bottom wall of passage 54, the upper curved sides 59 and 6!) are spaced from the fixed curved sides of upper valve seats BI and 62 so as to present curved passages up to the apertures 63 and 64 in the sandwich plate 65 (Fig. 16) which connect directly with the ends of channel loop 51 in channel member 52. Each valve has an open area 56 in which a rigid spring support 61 fixed upon the sandwich plate may be located for the purpose of supporting a resilient member 58 tending to raise the upper portion 65 of the valve so that said valve will normally occupy the upper raised position in operating space 10 in Fig. 15 so as to take against seats 6! and B2 and leave passage 54 clear. The lever or key 56 is provided upon its inner end with a fulcrum head H lying in a recess '72 in channel member 52, the lever passing through a slot 13 the sandwich plate 65 and having an operating pin 14 of valve 55 passing through an elongated aperture or slot 15 so as to allow arcuate rising and falling movements of the lever to occur without binding when operating the valve. I

In order to cover each valve when assembling the same, a somewhat flexible cover plate 16 having a clearance opening or slot (not shown) for the valve key or lever 56, a pair or undercut gibs 11, 18 holding said plate in place. Said plate may be set into position by sliding the same upward over a bottom stop 19 and under the overhanging portions of the gibs 11, 18 until the upper end of the plate meets upper stop 80, when the lower end will snap into posiiton above said bottom stop 19 and remain between the gib and stops. Of

course, other means occurring to anyone skilled in the art may be used to hold the cover plates for the valves in place and the covers need not be flexible, in contrast with those shown, and in fact, even the exact type or detail of the valves disclosed need not be used. It is also possible, and even feasible to use different plastic material for the valves than for the sandwich plate, valve cover plate and channel member, or even a metal or alloy, without essentially changing the shape of the parts involved and the plastic material may be so selected as to have antifriction characteristics with respect to the material of which said channel member is composed. The main features thus considered in connection with Figs. 12 through 1'7 refer to the valves and channel loops controlled thereby for playing in any key desired.

It is frequently desirable to be in a position to slightly sharpen or lower the pitch of the instrument by less than a full note and in fine gradations, and means for this are shown in Figs. 18 through 22. Figs. 18 and 19 illustrate a modification of the upper end of the instrument of Figs. 12 to 14 just described, a portion being removed to disclose the interior structure and a special adjusting or tuning valve 8| controlled by a knob 82 and capable of partial rotation in a valve chamber 83 from one extreme position against a stop 84 in Fig. 18 to another extreme position against the other side of the same stop. The valve member 8| operates against the arcuate wall 85 of channel member 85 of the instrument and has itself an arcuate wall 3'! spaced from the fixed wall 85 and operating against an arcuate wall 88 of less diameter than, and forming a continuation of wall 85, so that a channel loop 89 is formed. This channel loop connect through apertures 95, 9| in the sandwich plate 92 with channels 93 and 94 communicating with the general channel system of the instrument as a whole. The solid connection of the wall 85 with the wall 83 above aperture 9| determines the connection of one end of the channel loop 89 with said aperture, while the other end is determined by a fixed terminal block 95 secured upon the sandwich plate above aperture in said plate, the result being that upon rotation of the tuning valve 8| from one extreme to the other, the channel loop is gradually shortened so that the pitch of the instrument gradually rises. The apertures remain fixed, but the looped end of the channel loopapproaches or recedes from said apertures in accordance with the direction of rotation, and when the instrument has been tuned to a local piano or band including other instruments, the tuning valve is left in whatever its attained position may be, and the instrument played by fingering the other valves in the same manner as upon a comet or trumpet. A cover plate for the adjusting valve may be riveted, screwed or cemented in place.

While only one form of mouthpiece and shank have been considered thus far, other preferable forms may be used which are centrally and symmetrically disposed instead of being ofiset as in Figs. 2 and 3, for example. Hence, in Figs. 23 through 26 are shown a fragment of the upper portion of *an instrument with modified mouthpiece and shank as well as modified channels to cooperate therewith.

The channel member 91 of Figs. 23 and 24 has the short channels 98, 99 which cooperate with the mouthpiece shanks, connected by a rear channel I00 in channel member 91 which is raised so as to pass the rear of the shank transversely, while theshank I 01 I itselfhBJs a. part of 'the transverse portion -of said rear 'channel'icut into theisame-as a groove I 02 in ordertea-void increasing: the cross section of the instrument at-thatpoint; The channelor ductportions' I03: and I04 connect with channels 98 and 99 in the positionlshown, but when the'mouthpiece I05 issimply rotated toward the right until duct I03 registers? with channel I06 of the'general channel system of the instrument, the groove I02- on shank III I no longer registers with channel I and'the shank itself blocks channelsQB and99; A slight modification of the mouthpiece is shown in Fig. 2 7 having the same type of shank, grooveand duct portions, but themouthpiece I01" hasa' ring I08 resting upon a flange I09 and provided withside studs I I0, I I0 adaptedto'be engaged by'an'elastlc or the like in order to hold the mouthpieceas a whole down in' place whileallowing-the same to be rotated for pitch changing, the ring remaining stationary without rotation meanwhile.

The body of the instrument is susceptible: to modification, as will be more fully developed herein. For example, in the section of Fig. 28 the two channel members I I I and I I2 are shown as completely enveloping the edges or periphery 'of the sandwich plate II 3-"so that the recesses II 4; H at the sides-are-used instead of'marginal apertures or perforations a'sin plate 60f Fig. 6. The partitions II6 etc., between the channels-support the sandwich plate in' position, but'the plate is then wholly contained with said channel members.

Another form is shown inF'ig'. 29, wherein the channel members II 1, H8 contain a sandwichplate II 9 which is so' narrow'as' to be spaced from the side walls of the channel members and is wholly supportedbetween and suspen'ded in position by thepartitions I and HI which of course extend to saidside walls ofthe'channel members. In Fig. 30, a form of construction is shown in which not only the channel members IZZ'and I23 have the rounded channels and intermediate partitions I24, I 25; etc., but also" the sandwich plate I26 has correspondingly rounded partition portions I21, I 28, said sandwich plate being thus more than afiat, simple plate and instead forming a channeled structure of some thickness as shown in fragmentary perspective in Fig. 31.

Along. similar lines of design is the modification shown in Fig. 32, the two channel members I29, I30 having, a sandwich plate. I3I between them and being enlarged toward the side edges at I32, I33 and I34, etc., sothat the sandwich plate is thickened toward the sides-I35, I36-to correspond in sectional profile with said channel members.

In connection with modifications of the structure of the channel members, it may be pointed out that the. whole ensemble of the instrument body may be assembled in somewhat difierent manner than already described. Hence, the

.channel'members I36 and I31-of the-instrument shownin Figs.- 33 and34 with an intermediate sandwichplate I38' may terminate at the bottom at a line I39 at which a bell I40-is attached or cemented in place, while at the top, a simple mouthpiece !4I which may have a shank I42is inserted or secured. The pitch changing channels and features of instrument and mouthpiece may be omitted, if desired and the latter may simply connect directly with the'main channel I43 of fixed pitch; Of course, the. pitch changing features of the instruments ofF-igs. 1-5, 18-23, etc.,

. ingandcontainsthe semi-rotary shank I5'I of-a;

mouthpiece I52;.this=shank having a channel I 53 communicating with'theinterior; of the mouthpiece at the upper'end' and at the lower end communicating either. withzleft end I48 of the looped tube I49, or with the tube I46, depending on the position of the shank" I 5 I. (Seealso Fig. 3'? for: an alternate position of said shank.) In thc lower portion of this shank is a bypass channel I54 which connects the end I50'of1oopertube I 48 with tube. I46 when shankchannel I53 connects with the left end I48:-ofsaid looped tube. A finger'pi'ece' I55upon the channel is displaceable'in thecutoutportion I56 in casing I41 and facilitates. manual rotation of the mouthpiece and shankzfor' changing the. pitch;

Various other modifications of the body of the instrument: are possible, but a few more havingtparticular'advantagesiand .falling within the scope of. the invention willrbe discussed. In Figs. 30 to 32, forms of the. sandwich plate were shownfiwhich were. not simply fiat plates butactually recessed. or: channelled, or shaped to some extent: andcin. each case: of some considerable thickness; but in Fig; 39, a form is illustratedin which the portion corresponding to the sandwich plateforms the main frame of' the instrument body I51 in which the partition I58; for example forms an integral'p'ortion of said frame-and the apertures I53, I60 pierce the interior portion I6I of said frame. The outer plates I62, I63 are set'into. or onto the sides and serve to enclose the channels I64, I65, etc., and finish off the sides ofthe instrument.

Another form particularly involvingan advantageous arrangement of the mouthpiece and its related'channels'is shown in Figs. 40 to 42, there being, for examplefltwo channel members I66, I61 anda sandwich plate I68; while'the m0uthpiece I69 has a shank I10 centrally and symmetrically'disposed with respect to the sandwich plate: and channel members. This shank hasthe main channel I1I which in the position shown connects with-the instrumentchannel- I12 and the short bypass channel I13: connecting the two instrument channels I14 and I15 which in turn connect with the rear instrument. channel I16, forming" with channels I12 and Il4 the pitch changing loop capable of. being. cut in or out byrotatingthe mouthpiece one-half: revolution in either direction. The mouthpiece or its shank may be provided with a. finger piece as in Figs. 35-37, if desired; Inorder to allow for the molding of rear channel I16, the back of thesameis left open,:and then when the instrument is assembled, a. strip I11 of. plastic or metal also shown in Fig. 40a is cemented'or otherwisese curedi-in-place to enclose the'channel.

It maybe desirable in some cases to include blind *chambersto serve as resonance chambers-in order to favorably affect the timbre and tone of the sounds produced by the instrument, and a form of the instrument embodying such construction is shown at least partly in Figs. 43 to 45 but sufficiently to show how such chambers may be incorporated at 'various points of the structure. The channel members I18 and I19 are provided with the sandwich plate I 80 (Fig. 44) but in those portions not usually occupied by any sound channels I8 I, for example, resonance chambers or hollow portions I82, I83 which may extend as open areas I84, I85 through the sandwich plate I80 and continue in channel member I18 as chambers I86, I81, or the sandwich plate can be solid and form a partition separating chambers I82 and I88 from chambers I84, I85, if desired.

While it has already been stated that the channel members and sandwich plate may be made of plastic material or of die cast metal, but they can also be stamped from sheet metal as shown in section in Fig. 46. The two stamped metal channel members I88 and I89 may be soldered or brazed to a sheet metal sandwich plate I98, or may be secured thereto by means of rivets I9I, I9I, etc., or in any other practical manner, and the metal used may be sheet iron, steel, copper, brass, German silver, silver, gold or any alloy.

The valved instrument of Figs. 12 to 16 may have a tuning valve added to the same as shown in Figs. 18 to 21, or of any other type, as shown in Figs. 4'7, 48, 51 and 54, and the mouthpiece and its related channels may be modified and rotatable for pitch adjustment, if desired. The instrument generally indicated by I92 has the finger pieces 58', 56', etc., controlling valves as in said former figures, while the channel I92 leading to and controlled by said valves, may be tuned by a valve I93 by means of a finger piece or head 94. The valve may conveniently be housed in the rear channel member I95 in a recess I96 in which it may rotate part of a revolution in order to slightly lengthen or shorten the air column distance between apertures I91 and I98 connecting with channels I92 and I99. The valve has an arcuate partition 299 and a bent channel 20I connecting in all positions with channel 202 because partition 209 glides along fixed partition 293 and thus virtually forms a continuation of the latter in extended position and also increases the efiective length of channel 202, thereby lowering the tone. The valve is preferably located wholly upon one side of the sandwich plate 204, but may, if desired, extend through the same and ride upon the flat inside portion or face of channel member 205.

While in Figs. 18 and 19 the apertures 99 and SH would seem necessary to make valve 8I operative, the valve I93 can operate directly with channels upon the same side of the sandwich plate, if desired, even though shown operating to and from apertures I91 and I98, and I reserve such structure as part of the present disclosure.

Turning our attention to the mouthpiece 206, the same is preferably provided with a finger piece 291 upon its shank 208 shifta'ble in the recess 209 to partly rotate the mouthpiece. The latter has a longer shank than on the other mouthpieces previously described. The shank has a main channel 2I0 which connects in one position with channel 2II in member 205, which is connected through the sandwich plate to a rear transverse channel 2I2 in rear channel member I 95. Channel 2I2 again connects through the sandwich plate with the short channel H3 in member I95, and this in turn connects through the bypass channel ZI I in shank 208 with channel 2 I5 in member 295, and this forms the actual operating channel of the instrument continuing through channels 2 I8, I99 and I92, etc., down to the bell 2I1. This deep or long form' of shank and channel arrangement improves moisture drainage.

An alternative to the turning valves 8| and I93 of Figs. 18-21 and Figs. 47, 48 and 51, respectively, is shown by a'tuning slide 2I8 in Figs. 52 and 53, which may take the form of a V-shaped member or box with two hollow legs 2I9 and 220 slidable in a channel 22I by means of a finger piece 222.

The channel member 223 preferably has a central partition 224 in the channel 22I which isstraddled by the legs 229 and 238 so that no opening results between them in the channel member even when the turning slide 2 I8 is drawn far out to the position indicated at 225. The channel 226 in the slide connects through the apertures 221, 228 in the sandwich plate 229 with the channels 239 etc, in the channel member 23L It is clearly evident that when the tuning slide is drawn out into a more or less extended position, the air column is lengthened and the pitch lowered in accordance with the degree of extension, and if the slide is pushed in toward apertures 221 and 228, the air column is shortened and the pitch correspondingly raised.

In the remaining figures of the drawings, namely, Figs. 55 through 63, three further forms of the fundamental construction of the instrument body are shown. In Figs. 55 to 58 is shown a form in which two channel members 232, 233 have a simple mouthpiece 234 connected to the upper ends of the respectively corresponding channels 235, 236, but are devoid of any sandwich plate to form a partition for the channels. Hence, said channels are simply doubled upon themselves in the same general plane which ei ther coincides with the cleavage plane of the two channel members or is parallel thereto, the channels increasing in cross sectional area as they descend toward the bell 231 and terminate in the flaring ends 238, 239 in said channel members. i I

The form of instrument body shown in Fig. 59 has not only the two channel members 248 and 2M, separately shown in Figs. 60 and 61, but also a sandwich or partition plate 282 shown in Fig. 62, and of course, a mouthpiece 234 similar to that of Figs. 55 to 57. This form of the invention shows that the channel 243 in channel mem ber 24! connects with the mouthpiece and in order to centrally meet the same penetrates the sandwich plate 242 at 244 and has a corresponding short channel portion 285 in channel member 2 10. Said channel 243 is doubled upon itself in channel member 2 and'terminates in said member at 245 where the end registerswith the aperture 241 in the sandwich or partition plate 242. This aperture registers upon the other side of the plate with the end 248 of the ascending channel 249 which in the main portion of member is doubled upon itself So as to form convolutions 250 and finally terminate in the flaring opening 2-5I which extends through the open portion 252 in the partition plate and together with the flaring portion 253 of member 28! forms the interior of the bell 254 of the instrument. In this form, the number of apertures in the sandwich plate is greatly reduced, which is an advantage for some purposes.

between them with two sandwich or partition plates 258, 259 interleaved between the outer and intermediate members, a mouthpiece 260 being of course included. The channel 26| of the first member 255, for example, thus connects through an aperture 252 in plate 258 with the channel 263 in intermediate member 2-51, and this channel in turn connects through an aperture 264 in the second plate 259 with the channel 285 in bottom member 256. The channels may also follow some other course or arrangement in the channel members when three such members are used together with one or more interleaved plates. It is evident that the tuning and/or playing valves may be combined with all forms.

In the foregoing, my instrument has been.

shown capable of variation as to some features; the body channel members being always present and at least one, and often two in number or may be even three or more, while the partition plate or structure may have few (at least one) or many marginal apertures, while the construction may include other types of tuning valves or slides, or other manual playing valves than those described, not to mention that the mouthpiece may be simple and more or less conventional, or may be of special construction and combined with pitch changing channels in the instrument when desired.

Hence, variations within wide limits may be resorted to, and parts may be used Without others or in different combinations therewith and of different plastics and metals, so as to result in various instruments within the scope of the invention as a broad basis under construction.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim:

1. An instrument body for a wind instrument, including a hollow body member having individually continuous partition means subdividing the interior thereof into a plurality of duct portions alternately directed in substantially opposite directions, with corresponding ends of mutually adjacent duct portions connected in pairs to form a series of ducts constituting an air column sound passage, and at least aportion of the partition means comprising a separating wall disposed between the two mutually adjacent duct portions in each pair of the latter, which separating wall is common to both of said two mutually adjacent duct portions along at least part of its extent and terminates at least at one end thereof short of the respectively adjacent side wall of the body member, said separating wall thereby providing in each said pair of mutually adjacent duct portions an end clearance portion or gap located between said side wall of the body member and the termination of the separating wall and constituting the connection between the connected ends of each pair of mutually adjacent duct portions.

2. An instrument body according to claim 1, in which the partition means are plate-like and dis posed substantially in a single plane.

3. An instrument body according to claim 1, in which the partition means are disposed in a se-- ries having the duct portions located individually between said partition means and spacing the latter apart in substantially mutual parallelism.

4. An instrument body according to claim 1, in which each separating wall in a given group thereof terminates at both ends short of both of the opposite side walls respectively adjacent to the ends of the separating wall involved and causes each duct portion associated with each separating wall in said group to form a connected pair or couple with the immediately following duct portion.

5. An instrument body according to claim 1, in which the partition means are disposed in a plurality of substantially parallel planes.

6. An instrument body according to claim 1, in which each separating wall in a given group thereof terminates at both ends short of both of the opposite side walls of the body member respectively adjacent to the ends of the separating wall involved and causes each duct portion associated with each separating wall in said group to form a connected pair or couple with the immediately following duct portion on the other side ,of the same separating wall.

CARL F. WM. FORSSBERG, 

